Conditions for free elections in Russia not met – France

France praised the "many" Russians who voiced their opposition on Monday, claiming that "repression" was present during the election that prolonged Russian President Vladimir Putin's reign for an additional six years.

The three-day polls saw Putin win a fifth term in the Kremlin, and the French foreign ministry stated that Paris "had taken note of the expected outcome."

Since his most vocal critic, Alexei Navalny, unexpectedly passed away in an Arctic prison last month, the 71-year-old Russian leader, who has been in power since 2000, ran unopposed.

The vote was held in the face of "growing repression of civil society and all forms of opposition to the regime," according to the statement.

The ministry declared, "France commends the bravery of the numerous Russian citizens who have peacefully expressed their opposition to this attack on their fundamental political rights."

Thousands of Russians and foreigners responded to the invitation from Navalny's group and other opposition figures in Russia to participate in a "Noon Against Putin" protest on Sunday at midday at polling places.
This was interpreted as Navalny's final request.
Navalny's death was attributed, according to France, "in part to the Russian authorities tightening his conditions of detention."

The foreign ministry expressed regret over the exclusion of opponents of Putin's war against Ukraine, which is currently in its third year, from participating in the polls.

Additionally, Paris expressed regret that Russia had not invited Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) election observers.

Additionally, it denounced the polls' conduct in parts of eastern and southern Ukraine that are presently under Russian occupation.

"France reaffirms its attachment to the sovereignty, independence, unity, and territorial integrity of Ukraine and states that it does not and will never recognise the holding and results of these so-called elections," the statement read.

According to French President Emmanuel Macron he would not congratulate Putin on his victory.
“Alexei Navalny’s death and the banning of all (Putin’s) opponents mean that you can’t congratulate someone on an election marked by the death of those who fought for pluralism in Russia,” he told French daily Le Parisien.